S ACT OF 1992 | -
“\104-10122-10144 (2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORD a

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SUBJECT: Robert A. Maheu

Mr. Robert A. Maheu was born on 30 October 1917 in
Waterville, Maine. He graduated from Holy Cross College in 1949
and is married with four children. He was employed as a
Special Agent with the FBI from 1940 to 1947, and upon re-
“Signing from the Bureau, formed a private enterprise doing
business as “Dairy Dream Products." This venture culminated
in bankruptcy in 1952. He thea re-entered Government service
With the Small Business Adninistration in Washington, D. c.,
and was appointed Special Assistant to the Administrator with
the specific duty of Director 95£ Security, In February of
1954, he was forced to: resign from SBA because of political
reasons, determined to be the result of backing the wrong
‘political party in the election, He then set up his own.
investigative organization known as Robert A. Mahou Associates.

Mr. Maheu was recruited by the Office of Security in
March oF 1954. He was previously known to Mr. Robert H.
Gunnineham (deceased) who Was, at that tine, Chief, Special
Security Division, through their mutual employnent by the _
FBI. Cunninghaa saw in Maheu a covert asset who could be
utilized by the Office in extremely sensitive cases, “With
the approval of the Director of security, Subject was offered
& proposition wherein he Was to receive $500.00 per nonth, —
with the stipulation that he move into his own office and

that he be on call for any assignments by the Office of
Security. He agreed to this and lamediately took steps to
move out of his area, where he rented desk space in a suite .
occupied by Carmine S, Bellino, a former PBI agent and CPA.

In July of 1954, Maheu vas engaged by “Zritish shipping
interests” to check on Aristotle Onassis activities while ; F
in the United States. This included technical coveraga of
Onassis’ New York office. -It was later learned that the
principal ‘British interest" was Stavros Niarchus and thar
the ultimate goal of this task was to scrap the Onassis/

Saudi oi] deal. Maheu took the Job but conditioned his
acceptance with the fact that he would do nothing inimical

to the U. S. Government. Any information developed of interest
to the United States was to be passed by Nahev to the appro-
priate Government agency.

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During this operation Maheu had his staff prepare 3
paper citing dangers to U. S. sconomy and trade resulting
-from the Onassis deal. Through contacts in FOA, Maheu
had Harold Stassen read this paper in the National Security
Council on 22 June 1954. During this same pericd Maheu

- briefed Scott NcLeod, Assistant Secretary of State for

Security and Consular Affairs on the project. McLeod
agreed to furnish State commo and pouch facilities subject
to Joan Foster Dulles' approval. Additionally, Maheu
briefed J. Edgar Hoover and Vice President Nixon.

In August of 1954, Maheu advised this Office of his rela-
tionship with Niarchus. NEA Division was contacted and -
expressed interest in this matter. They were put in touch
with Maheu and furnished him a como channel,-a pouch system
and operational guidance, International litigation erupted
as a result of the Onassis/Niarchus matter, and as a resuit
of Niarchus claiming Government privilege in the case, the
Agency was subsequently identified as being the Governnent
agency involved. Files of this Office reflect extensive
correspondence furnished us by the Cffice of General Counsel
in 1956 regarding the Onassis matter.

Cn 16 August 1954 Subject was granted a covert security,
Clearance for utilization as an agent under Project TwWIXxT.
in the Near East. On 30 August 1954 he was granted a sinilar
clearance to permit his use in the United States as a covert
associate under Project LPHIDDEN. In November of 1957, a
cable from Ciudad Trujillo indicated that Mr. Maheu had

_ allegedly been involved in a violation of the Mann Act in

“procuring and transporting prostitutes for President Sukarno

. during Sukarno's state visit to the United States in 1956.

Mr. Maheu contacted this Office to advise that the allegations
were without foundation and stated that he would take steps ..
immediately to have his attorney see that appropriate
(Dominican officials would retract the charges. This was
subsequently done. Edward Bennett Williams acted as Maheu's
lawyer in this matter. .

_ in 1957 information was received indicating that during
President Sukarno's visit to Moscow in the fall of 1956, he was
introduced to a Soviet woman within the Kremlin. He had
an affair with her against the admonitions of his advisers.
It was reported that the Soviets took detailed films of the
affair and that a copy was sent to the PKI. In June of 1957
Al Ulmer and'Sanuel Halpern, FE Division, contacted the


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Director of Security and outlined a project wherein they .
envisioned a film being made simulating this affair. It

was planned that clips from this film would be inserted in

a leaflet for distribution throughout Southeast Asia sug-
eesting that Sukarno was compromised by the Soviets. In
July of 1957, Robert Maheu was given this assignment. He
utilized a trusted male employee of this organization (since
deceased) and -his fiancs. Maheu after an intensive make-up
cours2, administered the make-up to the participants himself, i
utilizing available pictures and descriptions of the subjects
as a guide. He hired a studio where he was given detailed
instruction on the use of the lights and camera. Waen the :
film was taken, only Maheu and the two participants were in
the studio. The project known as “Happy Days,” was never
completed and the £ilm was not distributed.

Files..of this Office reflect that during the 1958-1955
period, FE Division was put in touch with Maheu by this 2
Office for assistance in another operation relating to , i
President Sukarno. This project was originated in Mey 1958 :
when FE Division initially contacted the Director of Security
and briefed him on the project known as GIARPSTAR. Basically,
the project capitalized on President Sukamo's known weakness
for Caucasion women. Robert Meheu was given the assignment '
to locate a female-candidate. He advised that a proninsnt
‘attorney and ‘man about town, Spa fer Could
come up with a qualified woman. was anvestigated with
.  fayorable results and given a CSA on @ July 1958 but was not
made witting of CIA interest. The female candidate was
ie i , a Well-to-do widow, approximately :
35 years or age, resident of gence » considered to be .
highly intelligent and extremely attractives In August of
1958, the Project ‘HARPSTAR plan was concurred in by the COPS
and the DCI. ;

In September of 1958, Naheu and James O'Connell, of this

Office, net with Opie in New York City. eaten was
briefed on Agency, interest in the matter. Later in September
Haheu met with eae 2 in New York City under his true

nane and told her of governmental interest. : be nes
Haheu’s true identity having beep introduced to hin socially.
‘by pbigegsmm. On the same day (25 September 1953), ¢
was introduced to Joseph Smith, FE Bivision (known to pota
~~ sip and Maheu as Joseph Sins). pgmiinge was briefed on the
assignment, indicated that she understood exactly what was

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xpected of her and stated that she could leave the country
n 45 days. On 24 September 1958 "Sins"! fain met with.

at which tine she was told she would be acconpanied by
2 female traveling companicn, Elizabeth Hogarth (actually
@lizabveth Warter, FE Division). mwas told that “iiozarth"
would ostensibly be her secretary but would be, in fact,
tae person she would look to for direction.

bey

Records of this Office do not reflect any of the
activities oF Sapien during the course of her mission. It

is known that she did meet Sukarno, but due ta mfortunate
tining that hed hin leaving nis country on official business,
she had Little time to cultivate hin. Consejvently, the
purpose of the nission was not fulfilled. The last known
contact had with the Agency was in the form o£ a tele-
phone cail on 12 April 1961 when she called on a sterile line
anc talked to Mx. Hugh Tovar, who. she xnew-es George Henry.
She adyised that oneg pope W8r-had asked her to Sive a
party for President Sukarao wno would be in Los Angeles on

21 April 2561. wanted to know whether the Agency was
interested in sponsoring this party. A negative response

was given. :

In June of 1959, a covert security approval was issued
fcr the use of Maheu by IO Division in order for hin to be
approached and advised of Agency interest in International
Labor. Files of this Office do not reflect whether or not
this was done. On 7 October 1959 a covert security approval
was granted for Mr. Maheu'’s use in the United States. Th
request for approval indicated that Subject might be employed .
by the King of Jordan\to handle Jordanian public relations in
the United States. Mr. Maheu's later involvemcat in the pro-
curement of feminine companionship kor King Hussein during:
the latter's state visit to the United States is -set forch
in Attachment A. 7

In August o£ 1969, Richard M. Bissell, the then DD/P
contacted the Director of Security regarding the Roselli
matter. Details concerning this are set forth in Attachzent 3B.

In 1966 information was received by the Agency indicating
that the Senate Administrative Practices Subcommittee, under
the chairmanship of Senator Edward V. Long, had advised Maheu
that his testinony was dosired concerning his relationship
with Onassis, Savros Niarchos, Sam Giancana and Ss
The Subcommittee interest was invasion of privacy and :


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particularly the use of audio devices by private investigators.
In July of 1966, Senetor Long was alerted to the fact that

the Azency had had sensitive operational contacts with Maheu.
Senator Long was told that the Agency had used Maheu over

the years on a number of occasions but that he had never

‘been asked to engage in any wiretapping and had never

engaged in any such activities on our behalf. Office of
Security files do not indicate whether or not Mahen did

appear before this Subcommittee, althouzh it appears thar

he cid not.

In January of 1971, in light of the involvement of
faheu in a suit between executives of the Hughes Company
and Maheu, the Director of Security recommended to the DCI
that all existing clearances with Maheu and Associates be
terminated. The DCI concurred in. this recommandztion.

Files of this Office reflect that Subject’s company,
Meheu and Associates, cooperated with the Agency in supporting
the activities of an LPGLOBE agent, Michael G. Nerhigs,—
in Ecuador. .

A memorandum from the Chief, Central Cover Staff to
the Inspestor General dated 19 October 1973, delineates the
relationship between CCS and Robert Maheu and Associates,

Information regarding the possibility that Subject was
invelved in a leak of information concerning a sensitive
DD/S§T Special Projects Staff project is set forth in
Attachnent C.

Subject’s son Peter Robert Maheu was a staff employes
of the Agency and of this Office from 1863 to 1964. He was
a clerical employes. In February of 1969, Peter Mahou
was granted a cavert security approval as an employee of
Maheu and Associates for use on Project QRENCHANT.

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Ganins the Los Angeles and Mew York phases ‘of the tour. _ - a

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SUBJECT: Robert Maheu'- King Hussein Incident -

1. Ih connection with the official. State visit oF 7 . «

“Sing Bussein from 16 March through 18 April 1959, th

zice of Security was requested to render special support... - | re

According to NEA‘personnel Messrs. Norman Paul, Fred Lay?Pash
and Willian Aras, King Hussein was especially desirous of
female conpanienship during his Los Angeles visit and-it

was requested thet appropriate arrengements be made through
2-con trolled source ox the Office in “order to assure a -
satisfied visit. . ae . os

2. :- On. 3 “April 1959 Mr. ‘Robert Maheu, a cleared Office

‘of Security contact, was asked to arrange a party for‘King —— -

Hussein at Los Angeles,. California. This was done by
Mr. Mehew through Mr. GGxgyEmaeee. Mr. aes is 2 : —_
prominent ~ ewe ms attorney and weeps Cicure pre-  -. + cee
viously granted a covert security approval for use YF FE .
Division. _ BY pre-arrangsenent during the Course of this . 7 :
arty “Sing Hitsseit was intreduced to “ EE: , apart-. . |. 2
tine screen and stage actress. For the duration of Xing - ts §
dusscin’s stay in Los Angeles,‘3 throtgh. 7 April 1953, he :

and Miss GHMBB became intimate friends, it was indicated ~ -

by Mr. LaTresh, whoa was integrated into the State party,

‘i that King ‘Hussein desired to continue his friendship with | ob :

Hiss. exes and tnet he wished te meet with her during his: --. _

. stay in. New_York City fron 14 through As. April 19595 eg

.

- 3. On 33 Apriz 1955. arrangements were. made to rent the’ .
home of ¢ meee, on Office of Security source, ~~ --
at Long Beach, Long Island, for the period 14 through 18) — a
April 1559.- The home was to be used as 2 confidentisl meeting
place for Miss G@3ER. and King Hossain. At the sane time '
Miss papal Was registered at the Hotel Barclay, Lil East

ESCH reet, New York City, under the nans of Mrs. Sa :
a of Ei Paso, Texas. The publicity towghing on the }
relationship nad becoue nore pointed since/(Sone) publicity g
mention hed been pide of. the ames, background of Miss Soames. “s
Ca Tt A «My. LaTrash and) Miss GBP vere transported
t hons on Long Isiand which was taken over as

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_ the neeting viace for King Yussein and Miss GQ. Latex
' the sane day, by pre-arrangenent, tyro Department of State
Security Agents, a New York City police lieutenant and 2a.

hired chautfeur arrived with King Hussein. Miss GEER .
renained, at..the site through i8 April 1358, and Xing Husseir
‘and his’ party\ visited each evening and remained for about
four to five hours... ; .

4. During the stay at the Long Seach site

» Miss Gazz
‘discussed the publicity in the case at sone length with th
Security representatives..-She speculated about the possible
sources of certain personal information that she felt hed

been Leaked to the press. Additionally she snake of her

eep feeling for King: KRussein and commented on how Gg:
We initially sought her out to serve as a party com-
panion for the Xing. At the time she said she was unclear

as to just. what paytMr. Gp wanted her to play. In
atteasting: to clarify his case Mr. Tee said, "Iam o° +. is. -:

Miss GWM said she rejected the proposal but. finally went
to the party. She became auite taken with Wing Hussein and
found him to be most charming. - oa

S- Ali personal contacts by Security representotives
in this case were under. ztias and “Amnplied State Department’ °
affiliation. There is no record or ‘Indication in any of the -
files in this case that involves Rebext, Maheu by name of -
reference. t is believed that Mr. Maheu was never intro-
‘duced to Miss WERNER, and as fer as can be deternined .

Mims fronted" for all arrangements. Office of ecurity
investigation conducted variously from 25 May through .
17 September 1959 of SuuMMMM™ reflected no substantive
derogetory information regarding her. 7 . -

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SUBJECT: The Johnny Roselli Matter

1. In August of 1960 Mr. Richard Bissell approached . |
the then Director -of Security, Colonel Sheffield Edwards, |.
to determine if the Office of Security had any assets that
might assist in a sensitive mission requiring gangster-~type.
action. The mission target was Fidel Castro. Because of -
its extreme sexsitivity, only = smali group was knowledgeable
of the project. The BCI was briefed and gave his approval. —
Colone? J. C. Xing, Chief, WH Division, was briefed, but all
details were concealed fron any of the JMWAVE officials. °
Certain TSD and Comaunications personnel participated in...
the initial planning stages but were not witting of the. .
purpose of the mission. ce .

'Z. Robert Maheu was contacted, briefed gensrally on

the project, and requested to ascertain if he could develop
an entree inte gangster elements. Hr. Maheu advised that he
had met one Johnny Roselli on Several occassions whila visiting
Las Vegas. Maheu knew Roselli caly casually through Clisnts .
but had been given to understand that Roselli.was a high .
ranking member of the "Syndicate" and Controlled 211 of the

" dice making machines on tha Strip. Maheu was asked to
approach Roselli, who knew Mahen as a personal relations ~
executive handlins domastic and feroign accounts. Naheu ; vo
was to teli Roselli that he had recently been obtained by a cli-
ent who represented several international business firms which...

_ were suffering heavy financial losses in'Cuba as a result of ~~: .

Castro's action. These firms were convinced that Castro's —
rengval was the answer to the problen and were willing to
pay 2 price of $150,000 fer its successful accomplishment. .
It was ta be made clear to Roselli that the United States. oot
Government was not and should not becone aware of this 4 re
operation. an ; oot mo

3. The pitch was made to Roselli on 14 September 3950 -
at the Hilton Plaza Hotel, New York City. Nr. James O'Connell,
Office of Security, was present during this meeting sad was
identified to Roselli as an employee of Maheu. O'Connell -
actively served as Roselli’s contact until Hay 1962 at which
time he phased out due to an overseas assignment. Roseili's

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initial reaction was to avoid getting involved, but through
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_Maheu's persuasion he agreed to introduce him to a friend,

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Sam Gold... Roselli made it claar that he would not want
any money for his part, and he believed that Gold would
feel the same way. Neither of these individuals were.ever paid
out of Agency fonds. ~~ SS Coates ;
4. During the week of 25 September 1960, Haheu was

introduced to Gold at the Fontainebleay Hotel, Miami Beach.
During this meeting Maheu also met an individual identified —
as "Joe" who was supposedly a courier operating between a
Havena and Miami. Several weeks later Mahen saw photographs

Parade. They were identified as Mome Salvatore Giancana
and Santos Trafficant. Both were on the list of the
Attorney General's ten most wanted men. Giancana was -
described as the Chicago Chieftan of the Cosa Nostra and
successor to Al Capone. Trafficant was identified as the |
Cosa Nostra boss of Cuban cperations. Mahen called this _

' OFFficse immediately upon ascertaining this information. .

5. +In discussing the possible methods of accomplishing
the mission, Sam susgestsd that they not resort to firearms

“put that he be. furnished some type of potent pill that could

-Bay of Pigs épisode. Verona was advised the offar was

be placed in Castro's food or drink. Gold indicated that
he had s prospective nominee in the person of Juan Orta, a

Cuban official who had been receiving kickback payments for -

a gambling interest and who still had access to Castro and: -. ©
was still in a financial bind. -— re:

6. TSD was reguested to preduce six pills of high--= :

'. Jethal content which were then delivered to Orta by “Joo.”

After several weeks of reported atrenpts,.Orta apparently ..-.:
got cold feet and asked out of the assignment. He suggested. ,
another. candidate who made several attempts without success. ..
"Joe" then indicated that Dr. Anthony Verona, ons of the - °-
principal officers in the Cuban exile junta, had become =  - =
disaffected with the apparent ineffectual progress of the -"~ °
junta and was willing to handle the mission through. his.

own resources. Verona asked that he ba given $10,000 for
organization expenses and reauested..$1,000 worth of communi-~
cations equipment. Dr. Yerona's potential was never fully i
exploited as the mission was cancelled shortly after the 1

withdrayvn, and the pills were retrieved. At the height of

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SERED . Gold asked Maheu to oat 2 bug in
aenpeins room to dete ermine the extent of with ~

, - The technician involved in the assignugnt
was discovered in the process, arrested, and taken to the
sheriff's oxfice for questioning. He called Maheu in the
presence of sheriff's personnel and informed him that ke o
had been detained. Subsequently, the Department of Justite=—
ennounced its S$ intention to prosecete Maheu slong with the .

- $echnician. “CA°7 February 1962 the Director of Security | a
briefed tha then Attorney General Robert Kennedy on the circun- -—
statices leading up to Makeu'’s involvement in the wiretap. At
our requast, prosecution was dropped. mt

-..t- In Hay 1962 Mr. William Harvey took over es Roselli! Ss

case officer and it is not known if he was used officially .

‘Erom that point orn. It was subs equently learned from tha -

FBI that Roselli had been convicted on six counts involving ,
‘illegal entry into the United States some time during a
Novencer 1967. “On 2 December 1968 Roselli along with four :
other individuals was convicted of conspiracy to cheat _ --§
mesbers of the Friar’ s Club of $400,000 in a rigged gin -
“Tummy - game. Mr. Harvey reported his contacts with Roselli.

to this office during November and Decezber of 1967 and za
. January ‘o£ 1963. Roselli was facing deportation at that _ ae
tine but feit that he would win an appeal. . - ae

_— - . 3. On i7 Novenbor 1570 Mr. Maheu called’ James O’Connell,--
- '..Roselli’s first case officer, to advise that Haheu’s attorney, -” fo
Ed Norgan had received a call from Thomas Waddin, Roselli’s -.-
attorney, who stated that ail avenuas of appeal had been ex “1 &§
hausted and Roselli. faced deportation: Waddin indicated that se
. ££.soneone did not intercede on Roselli's behalf, he would :
make a complete expose of his activity with the Agency. On
13 November 1970 Mr. Helns was briefed on this latest develop-
- ment and it was decided that the Agency would not in any way
' assist Roselli. Mahen was advised of the Agency's position .._-
-- and was in complete agreement. - He stated that he was not foe
concerned about any publicity as it affected hin personally
should Roselli decide to tell ali. Subsequently Roselli or
somgone on His behalf furnished Jack Anderson details of ths
operation. Anderson wrote two columns regarding this operation

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on 13 January 1971 and 23 February 1971: Roselli-was last
known to be in the Federal Penitentiary in Seattle, _ .

Washington. : -
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SUBJECT: Special Projects Staff Matter — _

“on 25 June 1974: ur. Paul Evans, “Security officer, ;
Special ‘projects Staff, DD/S§T, requested that Office of - |.
Security records be. checked regarding a Mr. Janes R. Phelan: -
and Mr.. Vallace Torner.whe were both of interest in connection
with a sensit tive. SPS activity, - cae oe et

A check ‘of FRI and Office ‘of Security records”
indicat ed that Mr. Phelan had written an unfavorable —
article about the FBI in 1965 which appeared in the Saturday - me
Evening Post. .Additionalily Mr. Phelan testified as a defense ©: ~

- Witness in the Clay Shaw conspiracy trial on 26 February 1969.
- A review of Agency Library sources reflected that Mr. Pholan ....
-hed published a number of articles. Mr. Carl Duckett, DD/ S&T, oO
has speculated that. Mr. Robert Maheu might have been the oo
source of Mr, Phelan's information. Several DD/S&T officers -
recalled that in approximately December of 1970.Hr. James — ,
O'Connell received a telephone call from Mr. Maheu in which -
Hr. Maheu complained that the Az ency had embarked on a.new,
'  . project with the Howard Hughes organization and had not- Lt
"... gone through him.. A review of various articles by Mr. Phelan ..~
indicated that he had written several stories concerning. ~ °°
Maheu's defamation suit against Howard Hughes..-In these - °° .-..
_* |,,articles Phelan reported variously that: Howard Hughes -. ea :
‘++ might have paid Robert Maher $520,000 a year because of. SAT st
Habeu's Central Intelligence Agency expertise; Mahou Loe
. reportedly claimed that one of his assignments for Hughes ~
was to get.ths CIA-to serve as a cover for the billionaire' s
_ activities, a request which Mcsheu says he-refused to carry ..
out; and Maheu claimed that Howard Hughes suggested that |
‘Maheu work out an arrangement whereby he or his organizstion
could become 2a front for the CIA, another suggestion » which Doe
Maines claims he did-not + undertake. oy ek oe tae,

ST iaeresecst HES conentan tne ined wm _ = nome ann . cen a cette at

